Kosugi will kick up ‘Return’ to ninja role

Thesp to reprise popular series

Sho Kosugi, who toplined a series of ninja films that began with “Enter the Ninja,” is returning for a tail-kicking encore.

Kosugi will reprise his role in “The Return of the Ninja,” a film being scripted by Steven de Souza (“Die Hard,” “Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life”). Kosugi will play the last ninja master, who travels to the U.S. to find the American heir to the stealth martial arts legacy.

Pic will be produced by Kevin Foster of Amazing Grace Films. Foster said a group of Japanese investors are financing development and will bankroll 60% of the project’s $35 million budget. Kosugi divides his time between Tokyo and Hollywood, where he runs several martial arts studios.

Foster said the ninja pic will correct the Hollywood misperception that the masked men in black pajamas are bad guys. Historically, they were viewed as Robin Hood types.